Kenya: Exactions contre des réfugiés somaliens

Human Rights Watch accuse la police kenyane de maltraiter les réfugiés somaliens. Ces derniers fuient leur pays en proie à un conflit vieux de vingt ans.

Dans un rapport de 99 pages intitulé "Bienvenue au Kenya: la police maltraite les refugiés somaliens", l'organisation basée à New York estime que les populations qui quittent leur pays, des femmes pour la plupart, sont accueillies au Kenya avec des coups de fouet, et autres actes d'abus physique.

Elles seraient aussi victimes de viols, d'extorsions et de menaces de déportation de la part de la police kenyane.

Quelque 40 000 réfugiés somaliens ont traversé la frontière avec le Kenya juste pour les quatre premiers mois de l'année 2010 dans le but d'atteindre l'un des camps, dont celui de Dabaab dans le nord-est, qui abrite le plus grand nombre de réfugiés au monde, avec près de 300 000 personnes.

82nd Airborne unit sees bright spot in western Farah province

FARAH, Afghanistan — Last summer, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Faqir Askar did not feel safe in his own office. Taliban roamed freely in the streets of this western provincial capital. He thought he could die at any moment.

“It was a bad situation,” said Askar, the Farah provincial police chief, in a recent interview. “At the time, I wasn’t a commander. I was a survivor”.

But things changed after the 82nd Airborne Division’s 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment arrived in August, the chief said.

“When the 82nd came, they solved a lot of our problems,” Askar said.

The insurgency in Nimruz province to the south is worsening. The Marjah offensive in Helmand province to the east is still grinding on with no end in sight, and U.S. military officials have said that the campaign to secure Kandahar will last well into the fall, much longer than originally planned.

Govt set to clear Rs 983 crore for Bhopal victims

NEW DELHI: The Centre has decided to explore the feasibility of securing the extradition of former Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson, besides hiking the compensation for the Bhopal gas victims who look poised to get an additional package of Rs 982.75 crore. 

The decisions to secure the custody and enhance compensation for victims 26 years after the disaster brings out the pressure being felt by the Centre because of the popular outrage in the aftermath of the meagre punishment meted out by a trial court in Bhopal earlier this month. 

While Anderson's extradition is doubtful, given his age and health, the government does not want to leave room for any impression that it did not try hard enough. The presence of foreign secretary Nirupama Rao at the meeting of the Group of Ministers on the Bhopal gas leak on Friday was a clear indication that the issue, despite doubts about its practicality, was very much on the table. 

Also, the Centre feels that it should go ahead with the clean-up of the toxic site while pursuing the case on the liability of Dow Chemicals in the MP High Court. 

The Best of Berlin in June

Exberliner, Berlin's leading English-language magazine, in June heads to a hipster Kreuz-Kölln flea market, goes upmarket in Mitte, and crashes in a jailhouse bed.

Hip fleas infest Maybachufer

When the "Nowkoelln Flowmarkt" on the banks of the Spree in northern Neukölln (NoNeu-Ko?) made its debut, several blogs made fun of its Denglish, hippy-ish name (Buddhist beliefs are rumoured to be widespread amongst the organising team) and launched into tirades about gentrification and how it was a foretaste of horrors to come: Prenzlauer-Berg-ization and, God forbid, parents and kids. The Flohmarkt’s opening last month certainly showed it to be a hipster market – a mini Mauerpark without the park, if you like. There were arty bands, curry from the Kreuzberg Jamaican restaurant Rosa Caleta, organic beer, families of dancing children and their jointsmoking parents… There goes the neighbourhood! Despite iffy weather, thousands of visitors "flowed" through the single corridor of 100 stalls along the Landwehrkanal, browsing through second-hand hipster paraphernalia, hand-made wares from cushions to cake to jewellery, and the occasional designer item. There's no doubt markets like these are good for the neighbourhood economy: the surrounding bars and ice-cream parlours were cashing in on the spillover. And with the weekly Turkish market, the monthly Sideseeing fashion and design market, and now this monthly flea market, Maybachufer is becoming quite the avenue of commerce.

Serbia sink 10-man Germany as cards fly

Serbia downed 10-man Germany 1-0 in Port Elizabeth on Friday, after Miroslav Klose was sent off early in a World Cup match rife with yellow cards.

Klose, four shy of Ronaldo's World Cup record of 15 goals, picked two of several controversial bookings by Spanish referee Alberto Undiano and was sent off in the 37th minute for fouling Serbia captain Dejan Stankevic.

“Overall it was a fair match. It wasn’t a nasty foul,” said Germany coach Joachim Löw, pointing out that ref doled out nine yellow cards. “That many yellows and a red were simply too many”.

Less than a minute later Serbia went ahead after a three-man move.

Milos Krasic sent a high ball in from the right post for Nikola Zigic, the tallest player at 2m 2cm high, to head down for Milan Jovanovic to flick in past keeper Manuel Neuer.

A goal and a man down, Germany attempted to get back into the match and they almost grabbed a first half stoppage time equaliser when Sami Khedira's shot hit the crossbar.

Michael Jackson memorial: AEG, entertainer's estate to pay $1.3 million to help cover cost of Staples Center service

Anschutz Entertainment Group and the estate of Michael Jackson have agreed to provide $1.3 million to the city of Los Angeles to help cover the cost of last year’s memorial for the entertainer at Staples Center, Councilwoman Jan Perry said Friday.

Under the agreement, the city’s general fund – which pays for basic services such as public safety and parks – would receive $1 million. Another $300,000 would be provided in the form of a contribution to the Los Angeles Police Foundation to pay for equipment at the Police Department, she said.

Perry, who represents much of downtown Los Angeles, said the agreement showed that AEG and the Jackson family are “conscientious corporate citizens”.

The memorial was staged at the Nokia Theater and Staples Center, both of which are owned by AEG. The cost of the event was viewed as controversial at a time when the city is scaling back services and laying off employees. A city report last year put the total cost of the event at $3.2 million.

Last year, AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke accused City Atty. Carmen Trutanich of demanding $6 million to pay for the cost of the event. Trutanich said he asked for $2 million to $3 million at the time.

John Lennon's A Day in the Life lyrics sell for $1.2m

John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to Beatles song A Day In The Life have sold for $1.2m (£810,000) at auction, well above the price expected.

The double-sided sheet of paper with notes written in felt marker and blue ink was sold at Sotheby's in New York.

The lyric sheet also contains some corrections and other notes penned in red ink.

The song - co-written with Paul McCartney - is the final track on the band's 1967 Sgt Pepper album.

The buyer was an anonymous American telephone bidder. The lyric sheet had previously belonged to Mal Evans, the Beatles' road manager.

Gang's £60m drug business was among biggest in UK

A gang which ran a £60 million drug business from a set of isolated farm buildings was heading one of the biggest operations in the country, police said today.

The trade was based at several "highly secure" farm buildings in Swindon, Wiltshire, as well as at an industrial unit near Hungerford, in Berkshire.

The importation and distribution of the cannabis skunk had a "devastating effect" on the lives of thousands of people, Wiltshire Police said.

David Barnes, 41, from Hungerford, Michael Woodage, 51, from Whitchurch, Hampshire, and Christopher Wills, 29, from Bracknell, Berkshire, were found guilty today at Bristol Crown Court following a six-week trial.

A fourth man, Stephen Docking, was acquitted.

Five others, Nigel Hyland, 50, from Laburnum Road, Swindon, Franciscus Kattekamp, 38, from Kaatsheuvel in Holland, Alexander Post, 34, from Belvedere, Kent, Emma Stevens, 39, from Bracknell, and Paul Atkins, 30, from Binfield, Bracknell, had already pleaded guilty to their involvement.

The scheme began to unravel on April 24 this year when Wiltshire Police stopped a van being driven on the M4 travelling towards London.

It was found to contain 50kg of cannabis skunk with an estimated street value of £225,000.

School plan 'takes money from poor'

Leaked memo shows how coalition government ministers discussed raiding free meals budget

The government was today accused of draining money from schemes aimed at the poorest children to fund their flagship policy of Swedish-style "free" schools.

Headteachers said the coalition's plan to introduce hundreds of the free schools risked depriving money from existing primary and secondaries amid suggestions that Michael Gove, the education secretary, considered taking money from the free school meal programme to fund the schools. On Tuesday Gove is expected to announce the terms of a review of Labour's £55bn Building Schools for the Future programme, with a review group made up of schools, local authorities and construction experts which will report before the comprehensive spending review in the autumn.

A Whitehall source with knowledge of the programme said the review was likely to focus on removing Labour's preconditions for new school buildings, which emphasised that schools in poorer, academically struggling areas received funding ahead of thriving schools, even if their buildings were less decrepit.

Japanese Ambassador calls on Gen. Tariq

ISLAMABAD, June 18 (APP): Ambassador of Japan Chihiro Atsumi on Friday called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, at Joint Staff Headquarters. During the meeting they discussed matters pertaining to regional security situation, bilateral cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.

General Tariq highlighted the importance of Pakistan - Japan relations and said that Pakistan is cognizant of the constructive role played by Japan in Global and Asian affairs for the peace, progress and stability. 

He also appreciated the consistent Japanese engagement in economic and infrastructure development of Pakistan. 

Chairman JCSC suggested the holding of defence and security dialogue between Pakistan and Japan on regular basis for further enhancement of military to military ties. 

He said that we need to strengthen the defence collaboration in diverse fields, especially training cooperation, defence trade and defence industrial joint ventures. 

Chihiro Atsumi appreciated the achievements and sacrifices of Pakistan in eradication of terrorism and assured continued assistance by Japan in socio economic development of Pakistan especially in Malakand and other areas of FATA.

Gambia ex-military chiefs charged over 'coup plot'

Prosecutors in The Gambia have charged the former heads of the navy and army with plotting to overthrow President Yahya Jammeh.

Former navy chief Sarjo Fofona and ex-army chief of staff Gen Langtombong Tamba are accused of being part of a 2006 alleged coup attempt.

Gen Tamba is already on trial alongside other army officials for his alleged part in a failed coup last year.

President Jammeh himself seized power in a coup in 1994.

He has since won three elections, amid opposition allegations of harassment.

China, Pakistan discuss defence ties

Visiting Pakistani Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie have pledged to strengthen military ties during their meeting in Beijing on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

"Cooperation between the Chinese and Pakistani armed forces is exemplary and has been fruitful," Liang said at the meeting in Diaoyutai Guest House. He said the two sides should make continuous efforts to strengthen ties. 

Kayani said Pakistan values its defence and security cooperation with China.

The Pakistani general also met Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu and Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong, among others, on Thursday.

India targets $30 billion trade with South Korea by 2014

SEOUL: India on Friday expressed confidence to achieve trade target of 30 billion dollars with Republic of Korea (ROK) by 2014. 

Addressing the India - Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Commission, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna stressed that economic cooperation is the bedrock of India - ROK bilateral relations. 

"Bilateral trade has jumped by a robust 70 per cent in the first four months of the year. This trend is expected to continue over the coming months, providing confidence that the trade target of US 30 billion dollars by 2014 can be achieved," Krishna said. 

In this context, Krishna pointed out the need for expanded, but balanced trade growth and made a strong case for greater access to the Korean market for Indian pharmaceuticals, IT enabled services and agro-products. 

Krishna who is on a three-day official visit to South Korea chaired the joint commission meeting along with his counterpart Yu Myung-hwan.

Two American troops killed in Afghan insurgent attack

(CNN) -- Two coalition service members died in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan on Friday, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.

The ISAF said the two troops were American.

US 'wrong' to blame China for own woes

WASHINGTON - The United States must learn more about China instead of criticizing the country for its exchange rate and trade policies if it wants to increase exports to the world's largest market, US economists have said.

The comments followed a new bout of China-bashing launched by US legislators at a US House of Representatives hearing on Wednesday.

US congressmen and industrial associations criticized China for its foreign exchange regime and trade-related policies, including indigenous innovation, government procurement, intellectual property rights (IPR), market access and the investment environment. They claimed that these disadvantaged US industries and caused job losses.

The hearing comes at a time when US unemployment rates remain high despite initial signs of economic recovery.

"The problem is, we are not good at exports and we don't pay enough attention," said Barry P. Bosworth, senior fellow of the economic studies program with the Brookings Institution.

Dutch writer wins world's biggest literature prize

Dutch writer Gerbrand Bakker has won the €100,000 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for his first novel Boven is het stil, translated into English as The Twin.

Translator David Colmer gets 25% of the prize money in what the organisers say is the world's biggest literature prize.

The Twin beat off competition from 155 other titles, nominated by 163 public libraries from 43 countries.

The winning book is the story of a man forced to take over his brother's role running the small family farm when his twin dies.

According to the competition website, 'The Twin is an ode to the platteland, the flat and bleak Dutch countryside with its ditches and its cows and its endless grey skies'.

French Company EDF Formally Joins Eni, Gazprom in South Stream

Italian company Eni and Russia’s Gazprom have signed a memorandum allowing the French EDF to join as a third shareholder in the South Stream gas transit pipeline.

According to the document, EDF “will acquire a share in the Italian-Russian consortium established for creating infrastructure through the Black Sea for transporting natural gas to Europe,” Eni and Gazprom announced in a joint communique.

As early as April 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that the French company EDF will also become a partner in the South Stream project. Back then he said that EDF asked for a 20% share, which, if granted, will probably leave Gazprom and Eni with 40% each.

The South Stream gas transit pipeline is supposed to be ready by 2015. Its construction is expected to cost between EUR 19 B and EUR 24 B. It will be transporting 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, or 35% of Russia’s total annual natural gas export to Europe.

The South Stream pipe will start near Novorosiysk on the Russian Black Sea coast, and will go to Bulgaria’s Varna; the underwater section will be long 900 km.

Germany stunned by Serbia at World Cup

(CNN) -- A first half goal from Milan Jovanovic gave Serbia a shock 1-0 win over 10-man Germany at the World Cup on Friday to throw group D wide open.

Germany suffered an early blow in Port Elizabeth when leading striker Miroslav Klose was sent off for his second yellow card, shortly before Jovanovic fired Serbia in front. Lukas Podolski then saw his second half penalty, given following a handball by Nemanja Vidic, blocked by Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

The result was perennial challengers Germany's first defeat at the group stage of a World Cup tournament since 1986, when then-West Germany were beaten by Denmark. That year, the three-times world champions went on to reach the final.

It also marked the latest setback for the tournament's traditional giants following Switzerland's win over Spain and Mexico's win over France.

German coach Joachim Loew admitted it was a big setback for his team.

Iraq car bomb kills 5, injures 52

(CNN) -- At least five people were killed and 52 others were wounded in a car bombing north of Baghdad on Friday afternoon, police told CNN.

Police said the car bomb was parked outside the house of a Salaheddin provincial council member in a residential area in the town of Tuz Khurmato, a disputed territory 90 kilometers southwest of Kirkuk between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government in the north.

The official escaped unharmed, but some of his family members were wounded in the attack, according to police.

Overall violence in Iraq has dropped drastically over the past two years, compared with the height of the sectarian war in 2006 and 2007, but sporadic attacks continue.

The attack comes as Iraq is facing political uncertainty three months after the country's national elections. The country has yet to form a government, a process described by Western officials as lagging and expected to take months.

Officials have warned of militant groups taking advantage of the power vacuum and carrying out more attacks.